Jeeze, it's not even a year since I did the 100 post special. Shows just how much I've ramped things up on this project. It started as something I would do when a certain theme struck my fancy, and now here I am hitting one or two posts a week, usually pretty ambitious in their scope. The 30-in-30 special helped swell the count with 30 entire team sets (definitely not quick to do) in a month...and my ongoing Hall of Fame spotlights (some years are very easy with one or two cards needed). I'd sure like to continue my perfect game series, but I lack proper logos!
I can't imagine things will change and we'll be looking at the 300 milestone within another year since I've got lots of plans in my head. But for right now, let's call upon the Bot for some mostly uncommon players to be represented, as I crack open my autograph book from my youth and honor some more of the men who graced me with their signature...
Graig Nettles was another one of those paid appearances at a mall card shop that I stood in a long line to briefly meet. The first time I heard his name I thought it was Craig because my child brain wasn't paying attention. Upon seeing his autograph, I realized all those promotional signs didn't all have typos...
Chad Mottola was one of those guys who arrived on the scene but couldn't stick around. He did his most work early on with the Reds but he would end up bouncing around from team to team trying to find a place that wanted to keep him with the parent club.
Brian Cooper was another guy who didn't stick around with the few chances he was given. He was actually apart of the 2000 Angels squad, so here's what his card would look like if he was included in the 2001 Showdown set.
Kevin Cash is an example of a random nobody I got the signature for that turned out to not only get some decent playing time at points in the majors, but get some official Showdown cards. With the Red Sox he got his only postseason playing time, coming off the bench in a few games.
Lawrence was another low impact player with a brief appearance in the show, who you can see why the 2003 Showdown set left out when they selected their players.
Pedro Swann didn't get a lot of playing time in his career, and the 2004 Showdown set saw no use for him, but his card would have been an intriguing addition with that 15+ homer potential.
Fun fact: his C Speed was on full display against the Yankees in a late season game where he was thrown out by Left Fielder Hideki Matsui (LF/RF +0 in the '04 PR set) at the plate in a game that was delayed by rain and ultimately won by the Yankees (If he had scored, the game would have ended early for an Orioles victory)
Another picture I prefer to avoid when making cards, Scott Wiggins here didn't offer much of a career to choose from. One look at his chart and you can see why. There are some hitter cards from the later Showdown years not as good as what this guy gives up with the advantage.
Vinnie Chulk was one of those guys you keep in the bullpen just to fill out the roster, but mop up relievers gotta make a living too after all. He got his only winning season with the Giants where he posted a 5-4 record from the pen in 2007.
Not long after meeting Kevin Cash, I ended up meeting another future backup Catcher in Guillermo Quiroz. His only season of real usage came in 2008 with the Os.
I can't for the life of me understand how Bob File was left out of the 2002 Showdown set. It's not like he was a replacement player from the 1994 Strike. He pitched in 60 Games and over 74 Innings in 2001, and the card looks fantastic. Injuries ended his career early, and 2001 would turn out to be his only good season, but surely he could have gotten official recognition.
Well now, that injustice has been corrected.
